Al-Qaeda group in Lebanon vows to strike at Iran

Jan. 14, 2014
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by USA TODAY

by USA TODAY

BEIRUT (AP) - An al-Qaeda-linked group that has carried out attacks across the Middle East has vowed to target Iran and Hezbollah following the death of its leader in Lebanon.

Majid al-Majid was arrested by the Lebanese army last month and authorities said he later died at a military hospital in Beirut from chronic illness.

A statement issued by the Abdullah Azzam Brigades accused Hezbollah of killing al-Majid, saying his condition worsened in detention. It did not elaborate, but extremist Sunnis in Lebanon have accused the army of being complicit with the Iranian-backed Shiite Muslim group.

The statement posted on Twitter Tuesday said al-Majid, a Saudi citizen, passed away after years of cultivating men capable of carrying on his project, adding that attacks will continue after his death.

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